Introduction

detect and identify mechanisms of large-scale and long-term change in biodiversity of fish and other
exploited species (e. g., scallops, lobsters)

predict consequences of changes in biodiversity of fish and other exploited communities on ecosystem
functioning and human societies

Questions that we will address are:

What was lost in the past and what may be lost in the future? – species, populations, genes, alleles, fishermen, fishing-dependent communities?

Why did changes in biodiversity occur and how can we prevent further losses?

Do changes in fish biodiversity affect ecosystem functioning and the supply of ecosystem services?

What are the consequences of actions to prevent losses?

What are the costs (social, political, financial, etc.) to prevent further losses and the benefits of preventive action?

MarFish: Causes and consequences of changing marine biodiversity - a fish and fisheries perspective is a Responsive Mode Project undertaken within the MarBEF EU Network of Excellence, funded under the Sixth Framework Programme of the European Union
Principal investigators: Brian MacKenzie and Pascal Lorance